2022 Travel Team Feature: Nicolette Petrusic
Year after year, we continue to return to Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro, our partner hospital in Antigua, which we affectionately call our home away from home. The relationships formed over the last 13 years of traveling there are lasting. This year’s trip will be our seventh to Antigua, and our twelfth trip overall.
Travel team members generously volunteer their time, talent, and energy toward our shared goal of providing the gift of mobility to patients in need. There are financial and time commitments that each travel team member reaches in order to make the mission a reality for our patients. Nevertheless, many travel team members reapply year after year.
Meet one of our returning team members, Nicolette Petrusic. Nicolette is from Johnstown, PA, and this year will be her second mission with Operation Walk Pittsburgh. We are excited that Nicolette has returned to be one of our certified registered nurse anesthetists. Read on to learn about Nicolette, her career, and what Operation Walk Pittsburgh means to her!
Meet Travel Team Member Nicolette Petrusic!
From where does Nicolette hail?
Nicolette hails from Johnstown, PA. She is a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and really loves her work! In her free time, she enjoys traveling, running, eating, and swimming.
How has Operation Walk Pittsburgh influenced Nicolette’s life?
Mission 2021 was Nicolette’s first trip with Operation Walk Pittsburgh. As a CRNA, Nicolette monitors patients under anesthesia during surgery in the operating room. Her experience with Operation Walk Pittsburgh last year had a big impact. Because Nicolette had such a positive experience working abroad and with new people, she felt confident to take the leap and apply for travel nursing positions after returning the United States. Nicolette is proud of her decision to become a travel nurse and has OpWalk to thank for showing her that she can thrive in new and challenging locations.
How would Nicolette describe OpWalk to someone who doesn’t know what it is?
“It is an OR family reunion! Providers from Pittsburgh and beyond collaborate to provide their services to Guatemalans in need of specialized care. You look forward to the people as well as the work. The mission runs smoothly from day one because the experienced members help direct the newer ones. You feel energized because everyone wants to be engaged in the experience, and it is refreshing and rewarding to provide care in this type of environment.”
“I believe it is important to do bold things in life!” - Nicolette
What was Nicolette’s favorite memory from Mission 2022?
Nicolette’s favorite memory from last year was the group dinner with the entire OpWalk team and the Obras hospital staff. Despite the language barrier, Nicolette was able to make connections with the local nurses, saying, “it was really fun to have dinner and dance together!”
When asked the three words she would use to describe Operation Walk Pittsburgh, Nicolette answered, REWARDING, EXCITING, TRANSFORMATIVE.
Please consider making a donation in Nicolette’s name to support her fundraising commitment. Each team member agrees to help raise a portion of the total cost of supplies and equipment needed for the mission. Remember, 100% of all donations made to Operation Walk Pittsburgh directly support patient care during the mission. Won’t you help Nicolette reach her fundraising goal?